A man has been arrested from Moolakothalam area in Chennai for allegedly beating a stray dog half to death before hurling the animal into a river which led to its death.

The dog's carcass has been sent for postmortem (Representative Image)&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspBCCL

Chennai: Police in the state capital of Tamil Nadi have booked and arrested a man under relevant sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for allegedly thrashing and drowning a stray to death in Moolakothalam area. Identified as Olli Kumar, the accused is said to be a local rowdy and repeat animal abuser. Kumar's arrest was made on the basis of a complaint by animal rights activist Sai Vignesh.

In the horrific incident which was caught on camera, the accused can be seen dragging the dog on the road after beating it half to death. Kumar then drowns the animal to death by throwing it in the Cooum river. Locals alerted the Almighty Animal Care Trust after which a case was registered in this regard with the Washermenpet police station.

The complainant, Sai Vignesh told Deccan Chronicle that this incident shows how cruel humans can be. He also added that locals told him how Kumar is a repeat animal abuser. Based on Vignesh's complaint, Chennai police launched a search operation to trace Kumar and managed to arrest him on Tuesday. The latest reports suggest that he will be remanded soon. A police official familiar with the matter said that Kumar has a reputation among locals of torturing dogs.

Meanwhile, the carcass of the dog has been sent to the Madras Veterinary College for postmortem. A similar incident was reported from Chennai earlier this year where a man thrashed his neighbour's dog with a cricket bat. This instance came barely days after a security guard of an apartment building in Anna Nagar was charged under section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act after he thrashed a dog to death in the state capital.

In January of this year, as many as 16 dogs were reportedly beaten to death inside the government-run NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. After the incident drew widespread outrage, a three-member committee was formed to investigate the matter. The committee's findings later revealed how the animals were beaten to death using iron rods. A video of this brutal act was widely circulated on social media.

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Chennai police arrest repeat animal abuser for mercilessly beating, hurling stray dog in riverDescription:A man has been arrested from Moolakothalam area in Chennai for allegedly beating a stray dog half to death before hurling the animal into a river which led to its death.Times Now